Check out our new brochure on www.trailmanor.com! It includes our newest Model 2518 series trailers or you can always call our office to request one to be mailed to you. Many of you keep a few on hand and share them. Let us know if/when you need more. (605-239-4002).

In South Dakota we celebrate ‘Native American Day’ instead of ‘Columbus Day’ and we have enjoyed some nice parades and other celebrations provided by the Native Americans this month.

We read some very good advice from some of you on our Facebook page. The following are excerpts from those messages:

  • When you move from your campsite – drain the fresh water tank, leaving the faucets open inside. It will take a while for the water to stop draining. It can be tipped a bit to aid the process. (The one on the left is for the freshwater tank. If you don’t fill it, it won’t drain.)
  • As for blowing compressed air throughout, make certain you are using an oil-less compressor with a water separator on the line. Otherwise you’re probably pushing compressor oil and nasty tank moisture through the water lines. You also drain the hot water tank between campouts, which hopefully everyone is doing. (ADDED NOTE FROM THE TRAILMANOR FACTORY: The air pressure used should not exceed 50, 60 lbs pressure.)
  • Words can’t describe how important it is to make sure the switch is only turned on when the tank is full of water. AND REMEMBER to turn it OFF when you start the “break camp” process. What commonly happens is the switch is left on because you forgot to turn it off. Then you unplug from the park pedestal when you pack up to go home. Then on the next campout, you pull into the site, you open up the shells, you plug in and at that point, the hot water electric element heats up when there is no water in the hot water tank. The element burns out and now you have to repair it because the element likely cracked and now has an electrical path to ground and neutral which can cause hot skin on the trailer and likely pops the GFI outlets.
  • ALWAYS TURN OFF WATER HEATER WHEN YOU CLOSE UP. If there is no water in the heater, the heating element will burn up as soon as power is connected – which could be months away and you will not remember that switch is still on NOTE: That little electrical switch can be hard to see and even harder to get to. If your water heater can use both propane and electricity (older units are propane only), the switch will be there. I used a flat head screw driver from outside the camper to flick the switch on and off.
  • Also, read your manual for instructions on winterizing your unit before you put it in storage.

These days filled with beautiful fall foliage are perfect for travel and camping. Hopefully you can be ‘out there’ enjoying everything surrounding you.

Until next month,

Paul Wipf